Ranunculus asiaticus &#39;ABEPONA&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Ranunculus  cultivar named ‘ABEPONA’ is disclosed, characterized by a unique combination of colors in the corolla, including shades of green and white. The petals are deeply undulating. Vase life of the cut flower is exceptionally long and the corolla is round when fully open. The new variety is a  Ranunculus , normally produced as a cut flower and potentially useful as an ornamental plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Ranunculus asiaticus.

Variety denomination: ‘ABEPONA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Ranunculus cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Alberto Biancheri in Camporosso Mare, Italy. The cross resulting in this new variety was made during 2009.

The seed parent is the, unpatented, proprietary variety referred to as Ranunculus ‘PPB109-07/2’. The pollen parent is the unpatented, proprietary variety referred to as Ranunculus ‘PPB45-07/2’. The new variety was discovered in 2012 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from the 2008 crossing, in a research greenhouse in Camporosso Mare, Italy.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first performed by vegetative division of buds sprouting from the rhizome of the selected plant. Subsequent propagation has been performed by tissue culture. First propagation took place at a research greenhouse in Camporosso Mare, Italy in 2012 and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in multiple successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘ABEPONA’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘ABEPONA’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘ABEPONA’ as a new and distinct Ranunculus cultivar:

1. Unique combination of colors in the corolla, including white and shades of green. 2. Rounded shape of the corolla when it is fully open. 3. Deeply ruffled and textured petals. 4. Exceptionally long vase life. 5. High productivity.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ABEPONA’ are similar to plants of the seed parent, in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘ABEPONA’ differ in the following;

1. Flower size.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ABEPONA’ are similar to plants of the pollen parent, in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘ABEPONA’ differ in the following;

1. The new variety has a different flower color than the pollen parent. 2. Flower size.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ABEPONA’ are comparable to the commercial variety Ranunculus ‘ABATLAUA’, filed concurrently. The two Ranunculus varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety ‘ABEPONA’ differs in the following:

1. Combination of colors in the corolla; ‘ABEPONA’ has a corolla made up of shades of green and white, corolla color of ‘ABATLAUA’ is shades of purple and green.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color flowering plants of the new variety at approximately five months old, grown in a greenhouse.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close up of plant parts. The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 6^(th) edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘ABEPONA’ plants grown in a greenhouse Camporosso Mare, Italy. The plant described has been cultivated under glass, planted in the months of September and described in the month of February. One must always refer to these conditions of season and culture, when considering the present description. By reason of different climate or culture conditions, differences may arise between certain characteristics of the plant and the corresponding characteristics of the description. It should be considered as normal and do not modify the essence of the present invention because it will possible to identify the plant by means of the totality of the characteristics given in the description. The rhizome has been planted on raised benches in a peat and pumice substrate mixture. The growing temperature ranged from 12° C. to 25° C. during the day and from 2° C. to 8° C. during the night. General light conditions are bright, normal sunlight. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

Botanical classification: Ranunculus asiaticus ‘ABEPONA’.

-   Propagation:     -   -   Time to rooting.—15 days at approximately 10-12° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plantlet.—20 days.         -   Root description.—Secondary roots grow from the rhizome and             are fasciculate type. -   Plant:     -   -   Growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial, robust plant, semi-erect             vegetation.         -   Height to top flower.—60 to 65 cm.         -   Plant spread.—50 to 60 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Medium.         -   Branching characteristics.—Main floral stems grow from a             basal rosette with 1 or 2 lateral branches, each one of             which has a flower.         -   Length of lateral branches.—50 to 60 cm.         -   Diameter of lateral branches.—0.5 to 0.8 cm.         -   Texture of lateral branches.—Slightly tomentose.         -   Internode length.—Internodes are extremely close together             forming a basal rosette.         -   Strength of lateral branches.—Medium.         -   Color of lateral branches.—Yellow Green (RHS 144A).         -   Angle of branches.—15° to 20°.         -   Number of leaves per lateral branch.—Usually 2. -   Foliage: The leaves, usually numerous, have a marked heterophyllia,     in relation to the degree of their development and their position on     the plant (base of the plant; floral stem).     -   -   Leaf at the base of the plant.—Arrangement: Simple (young             leaf, YL); Biternate (mature leaf, ML). Average Length: 30.0             to 35.0 cm. Average Width: 15 to 22 cm. Overall Shape of             blade: Obovate (young leaf); Palmatipartite (mature leaf).             Dissected leaves, describe lobes, quantity of dissection:             Young leaves are generally not lobed; mature leaves are             generally divided in 3 parts, each one of which is further             divided in more lobes. Apex: Rounded. Base: Rounded.             Attachment: Petiolate. Margin: Dentate. Texture of top             surface: Slightly tomentose. Texture of bottom surface:             Slightly tomentose. Appearance of top surface: Glossy.             Appearance bottom surface: Very glossy. Leaf internode             length: The internodes are extremely close together, forming             a basal rosette. Color: Young foliage upper side: Green (RHS             137A). Young foliage under side: Yellow Green (RHS 146B).             Mature foliage upper side: Green (RHS 137A). Mature foliage             under side: Yellow Green (RHS 146B).         -   Venation.—Type: Dichotomous; plunging in to the limb at the             upper surface; raised on the limb at the lower surface.             Venation color upper side: Yellow Green (RHS 144A). Venation             color under side: Yellow Green (RHS 144A).         -   Petiole.—Petiole: Long, tubular, rigid. Length: 18 to 20 cm.             Diameter: 0.4 to 0.7 cm. Pubescence: Slightly tomentose.             Color: Yellow Green (RHS 144A).         -   Leaf inserted at the nodes of the floral stems             (sl).—Arrangement: Bifoliate/Biternate. Average Length: 18             to 20 cm. Average Width: 10 to 15 cm. Overall Shape of             blade: Palmatipartite. Dissected leaves, describe lobes,             quantity of dissection: Generally divided in 2 parts, each             one of which is further divided in many deeply incised             lobes. Apex: Acute. Base: Acute. Attachment: Floral stems.             Margin: Dentate. Texture of top surface: Slightly tomentose.             Texture of bottom surface: Slightly tomentose. Appearance of             top surface: Glossy. Appearance bottom surface: Glossy. Leaf             internode length: 4 to 8 cm. Color: foliage upper side:             Green (RHS 137B). foliage under side: Green (RHS 138B).             Venation: Type: Longitudinal, deeply plunging in to the limb             at the upper surface and very raised on the limb at the             lower surface. Venation color upper side: Yellow Green (RHS             144A). Venation color under side: Yellow Green (RHS 144A).             Petiole: Petiole: Slightly flat, rigid. Length: 8 to 10 cm.             Diameter: 0.7 to 0.9 cm. Pubescence: Slightly tomentose.             Color: Yellow Green (RHS 144A) -   Flower:     -   -   Bloom period.—Winter to Spring.         -   Vase life (cut flower).—15-20 days.         -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Self-Cleaning.         -   Bud.—Closed bud (CB): Shape: Flattened globular. Length: 1.0             to 1.6 cm. Diameter: 1.3 to 2.0 cm. Color: Green (RHS 137B).             Slightly open bud (OB): Shape: Flattened globular. Length:             1.8 to 2.2 cm. Diameter: 2.0 to 2.3 cm. Color: Yellow Green             (RHS N144C); Red (RHS 46A) Yellow Green (RHS N145A) near the             margin.         -   Flower size (of _(1.2)).—Diameter: 8 to 12 cm. Height: 3 to             4 cm.         -   Corolla (of _(1.2)).—Round, regular, in the form of a flat             section with slightly festooned edges. Petals: Arrangement:             Imbricated, disposed on the receptacle in very tight             verticils. The size of the petals is quite variable,             according to the position in the corolla, decreasing from             the exterior toward the center. The average size of fully             developed petal is as follows: Lobe Length: 3.5 to 4.5 cm.             Lobe Width: 2.5 to 3.0 cm. Quantity: Double flower, petals             are very numerous typically 150 to 200. Texture: Silky,             thin, resistant, slightly tomentose on upper and lower             surfaces. Lobe Apex: Flat. Lobe shape: Truncate. Margin:             Sinuate. Aspect: Trapezoid, concave, reflexed when flower is             fully opened. Color when opening (CF): Upper surface: Yellow             Green (RHS 144A). Lower surface: Yellow Green (RHS 144A).             Color Fully opened (OF): Upper surface (PU₁): White from the             margin towards the center and along the venations; Yellow             Green (RHS 144A). Lower surface (PL₁): White from the margin             towards the center and along the venations; Yellow Green             (RHS 144A). Other cultural improvements or features: In this             variety, the colors of the corolla could present a lack of             White tones and an increase of Green tones. This is already             noticeable in the flowers that are opening and is present in             those that are wide open (OF₂; PU₂, PL₂). This variation of             color, partially typical of this variety, is accentuated in             particular growing conditions, in relation to light             exposure, to the temperature and to the different             composition of fertilizers used by the various farms.         -   Calyx to sepals (s).—Quantity per flower: 10 to 12. Shape:             Concave, moderately incurved. Length: 1.5 to 2.0 cm. Width:             0.3 to 0.5 cm. Apex: Acute. Base: Flat to slightly rounded.             Margin: Entire. Texture: Lower surface is tomentose; Upper             surface is glabrous. Color Upper Surface: Green (RHS 138B).             Color Lower Surface: Green (RHS 137C).         -   Peduncle.—None.         -   Pedicel.—Length: 50 to 55 cm. Diameter: 1.2 to 1.6 cm.             Color: Yellow Green (RHS 144A). Orientation: Upright,             straight, rigid. Pubescence: Slightly tomentose.         -   Fragrance.—None. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—Stamens: Rarely occurring, irregular. Anther             shape: Oblong. Anther length: 3 to 4 mm. Anther color:             Yellow (RHS 7A). Pollen quantity: Scarce.         -   Gynoecium.—The pistils are numerous, short, fused together             at the center of the corolla in a Yellow Green (RHS 144B)             and Yellow Green (RHS 154A), dome-shaped apocarpous             gynoecium. -   Other characteristics:     -   -   Seeds and fruits.—Seeds and fruit production not observed.         -   Disease and pest resistance.—Neither resistance nor             susceptibility to normal diseases and pests of Ranunculus             has been observed.         -   Temperature tolerance.—Upper and lower temperature tolerance             not observed, plants have been grown in a climate controlled             greenhouse. Ranunculus asiaticus typically tolerates             temperatures within USDA Zones 7 to 11. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Ranunculus plant named ‘ABEPONA’ as herein illustrated and described. 